Chereads / Beneath Secrets and Scandalous Pain / Chapter 11 - Meeting his family

Chapter 11 - Meeting his family

"Julian!", Abi managed to find him with a medium sized suitcase and with some fierce looking men in black.

He was also a rich kid like Jessica and Riley. Abi found herself being friends with rich people. It's good to be friends with such people because her psychology and social circle kept changing as she did.

"Babe", Julian said and hugged her.

Abi began to cry when it dawned on her that he was really leaving. But why didn't he tell her? Why did she have to hear it from that stupid girl named Jessica?!

"You're leaving?", She accused him and he nodded.

"It's just three years, babe. Our company is opening a new office in Madrid and my father wants me to go there for three years to learn proper business. I swear I'll be back", Julian took her hand in his and looked at her.

Her lips parted and she began to cry. "But…but we just started dating. We celebrated one month last week, Julian"

Julian cupped her face and said, "I know, I know, babe. But I'll be calling you all the time, okay?"

"No! You can't leave me like this!", Abi cried. "It's just a month! I hate you, Julian!"

 "I love you, Abigail", Julian kissed her forehead.

"If you go, I swear we're over!", She yelled with bitterness.

He wanted to kiss her so badly but he was too shy to do that in public. He has never kissed her on her lips before. He wanted to do that before he left but his men took his briefcase and held his hand.

"Julian", Abi yelled.

"We're done, Julian!!", She raved after him in despair!

"Final boarding call for Spain! It's time to say adiós to your family and amigos. Please make your way to the gate and join us for a safe and enjoyable journey to España"

That was the time for the passengers to prepare to depart.

But Julian left without doing all that he had promised. He never texted her or called her like he had said. She never heard anything from him till the day she heard that he was back in the company.

"Why are you working here? What are you up to?", Abi eyed him.

"This is my last internship. It's been a month and I just began", Julian smiled.

"How are you coping with you boss?", Abi asked with a low voice.

"I don't like him", Julian replied and stabbed his crab.

"Oh! Easy on the poor crab. His name is not Leonardo Grey", Abi asked.

"Did he threaten you or anything when he fought out that you were involved with him in a scandal?", Julian asked.

"Nah!", Abi replied.

"Good! I would have ended my internship and sued him", Julian replied.

Abi finished eating and looked at her phone that dinged with a notification.

'What's Riley up to?', She asked herself and looked at the image she sent to her.

It was a photo of Leo and Ophelia having a meal together. Unfortunately, she wouldn't see Leo but only Ophelia due to the angle that the photo was taken.

Ophelia was dressed like she was attending a club. It's a freaking date so why is she dressed like that? Abi zoomed in to make sure she was not seeing things.

She stopped eating because she lost her appetite after seeing the picture.

"Are you full?", Julian asked with concern.

"Yeah", Abi replied and watched him get up.

They walked together to drop their plates. As Ai turned around, she collided with a fellow staff. She became unbalanced immediately and was about to fall when Julian's arms embraced her tightly.

She stared into his blue eyes and moved back from him. They were so close and she was shocked that she wasn't wearing her mask.

She ran to the table quickly to cover her face and grabbed her handbag.

"Are you leaving now?", Julian asked with sadness.

"Yea, Julian. Thanks for calling me out today. I had fun and-"

"Meet me at the parking lot L now!" - Husband

She rolled her eyes and continued, "Call me. And thank you!"

Julian watched her leave in a hurry. He didn't get to tell her that he still has feelings for her. He wanted to tell her that she was the only one in his heart and he wanted to get back with her.

"Screw you, man", He cursed himself and walked back to his office.

'At least, I saw her pretty face', He thought with a smile on his face.

The driver opened the car for Abi for her to get in when she arrived. She met Leo in the car already. He was sitting nonchalantly like the king that he was. He was looking colder than ever too.

"How was your little date?", He asked with his eyes closed.

"How did you know it's me?", She asked him.

"I have a nose to know your scent", He hissed. Abi smiled a little bit and replaced it with a frown as the picture of him and Ophelia came into her head.

"So, that's your little boyfriend?", Leo further inquired with a scoff.

"He's not little. Just because he's working under you doesn't mean he's a little man. Don't you know A small leap of entertainment?", Abi asked with pride in her eyes.

"What's that?", Leo's eyes were now open. He looked at his wife that was now bubbling after a meeting with her stupid boyfriend.

"That's the name of his company", She said.

"Hmm", He replied and looked at her hand. The burn was gone. He was afraid it would leave a scar on her beautiful skin. He was glad that it didn't leave any scar.

"So, you dressed up for him?", Leo was suddenly jealous.

"He's my ex boyfriend. We dated for one month, okay? Why are you asking me this? We're free to be in a relationship, right?", She pouted and began to text someone with a smile on her face.

Leo knew it was him when she began to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Where are we going?", Abi asked.

"My family wants to meet you. They'll have dinner with you and we'll go home. We might spend a long time there", He spoke gently.

Abi was alarmed when she heard the word 'family' from his mouth.

"Don't worry. I'll be with you throughout. No one would have the effor to lay a finger on my wife", He spoke coldly.

Abi couldn't help but blush when she heard that. Did he just acknowledge the fact that she was his wife?

Leo cleared his throat and glanced at her, "I'm sorry for calling you dumb and a slut then"

Abi had to look at him this time. She couldn't believe her ears. Was she really hearing the right things?

His eyes were now closed and his slender fingers were tapping his lap. He rested his head on the arm rest that had demarcated their seaters. He looked nothing less than a perfect man.

"It's fine. I'm also sorry for running down the stairs and fainting", She said.

Leo chuckled when she heard that. Abi was annoyed that he was making fun of her again. What was she supposed to say then?

Leo opened his eyes slightly to look at the woman that was fuming about his reaction to her apology. He doesn't know why he finds her funny, cute and annoying at the same time.

He never knew having a wife would be this fun. He was angry and very upset to see her with another man that afternoon.

He didn't want to admit that they did look good together. She's only supposed to look good beside him. On his way out of the company, he had seen Julian's arms around her slender waist.

He was furious and walked out of the company in anger. He doesn't know the relation between them presently but he knew when a man was up to something.

He has gone through Julian's reports from Darcy and found out that the two really loved each other in college. They dated for a month and got separated when he traveled to Spain for some family business.

He was working as an intern under Drop for a month. What got him annoyed that Abi stepped out of his house looking so pretty to meet another man in his own company

He squeezed his fists and furrowed his brows when he saw the person calling his wife. He looked at her and saw her smiling like a fool in love.

"No one picks a call when I'm in the car", He declared sternly and watched her frown.

That was a fat lie that found its way out of his mouth with ease. He must admit that his jealousy side got activated.

His phone began to ring and he glanced at the caller id before answering the call. Abi looked at him and wanted to protest. He glared at her and spoke, "Yes?"

"Hi brother! Where are you now? Grandpa just arrived and-"

"You'll see me when I arrive. Tell your mother that I'm bringing her daughter in law with me so she would get ready to kiss both cheeks with your father ", Leo said coldly and disconnected the call.

"Are you fighting with your family?", Abi asked with warmth.

Leo didn't answer her so she bit her lips and began to fidget with her gown.

"You're my family", He suddenly said. They stared at each other. Words got caught in Abi's throat as she continued staring at him. She was lost in his beautiful eyes and couldn't help but be drawn to his coldness.

"So, how was your date?", She cleared her throat.

"What date?", Leo smirked.

"Oh! I must have seen something else", Abi said and tried to convince herself that the man in the photo was not her husband.

"Did you go on a date?", She asked shyly and continued fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

Leo glanced at her and swallowed. He doesn't want to admit that his wife was really pretty. He would have rated her a ten over ten but he just doesn't hold any romantic feelings too her.

But that's too bad, he doesn't have a thing for her…yet. She was all red with blush on both cheeks. 

Was she blushing?

Her small nose was cute and her lashes bashed anytime she wanted to look at him. It was as if she was scared of him or something. She was scared to looking him in the eye for more than five seconds. Four seconds was the highest time she stared into his eyes.

'Do I look ugly?', He asked himself when it got to a point.

"I had to go on a date with Ophelia and brought the media with us because I had to shift the focus from my wife to my relationship", He emphasized on the 'wife'

Abi thought he was tired of her and apologized, "I'm sorry for being a parasite on you"

"You aren't anymore. You've been upgraded to another level", He retorted and she frowned.

She looked at the window in anger. He was depriving pleasure in insulting her once again.

Leo let her be and rested a little bit. He was also tired and enjoyed the calm journey to the man of chaos.

"We're there, sir", The driver announced and waited for Leo's order.

"We have to pretend to the other family members that something is going on with us else-", Leo's palm was stretched out for Abi to take.

But she came out of the car and ignored his outstretched hand. She walked ahead with her hair and dusted her dress aggressively.

"That's not the way, wifey", He suddenly said with a sweet voice.

Abi had to turn around to check if it was her husband that really said those words to her. His horns already disappeared from his head and now, all he got was the cute face and angel wings.

"Lead the way then", Abi hissed and frowned at him.

"Take my hand", Leo stretched out his hand again to her. This time, Abi had no choice than to take the hand of her husband.

"Good", He patted her head and began to walk inside the mansion that stood before them.

"Who's house is this?", Abi was really impressed by the huge building.

"This is Villa del Cielo", Leo answered and added, "It belongs to my grandparents"

The majestic Villa del Cielo stood tall, its exterior a masterful blend of modern luxury and classic Mediterranean architecture.Soft golden stone and creamy stucco walls gleamed in the sunlight, adorned with intricate carvings and ornate ironwork.

 Terracotta tiles curved elegantly across the roof, complementing the warm earthy tones of the facade. Large arched windows and French doors allowed sunlight to pour in, framing breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

Ornate wrought-iron balconies and sweeping arches added a touch of elegance. A grand stone entrance, flanked by towering columns, welcomed visitors beneath a majestic archway.

Lush greenery and vibrant flowers spilled from ornate planters and window boxes. Softly glowing lanterns and strategically placed spotlights highlighted the mansion's stunning features. Villa del Cielo's design seamlessly blended Spanish, Italian, and modern styles.

"It must be nice to have rich parents and super wealthy grandparents", Abi said with a laugh and looked at him.

He didn't say anything. He just watched her admire the place and walked into the main house.

All the maids bowed as they walked in. They were all dressed in black and she feared it was a funeral they came for.

Unlike the maids at her husband's place, the maids here were so cold and distant. They were always putting up a serious face.

Leo's hand was still intertwined in hers as they approached a place in a garden. The garden was perfectly lit with all sort of lights and candles to make it look pretty.

Abi felt that her husband took her on a date rather than meet his family.

"Wow", She was amazed and was about to turn her head around when she collided with the hard back of her husband.

She was embarrassed and bit her lips. Her face was on the floor and she began to think of what to say when they asked her any question.

Her husband was back to his coldness and he sat down without greeting anyone. Abi couldn't do the same because it was disrespectful.

She bowed her head and greeted the oldest people at the table before greeting the parents.

None of them answered her so she just bit her lip and sat down beside her husband. Her husband shared with her a cold look and she gulped.

"I'm honored to meet you, sister-in-law", A cheerful young man blurted after the awkward situation.

"Me too", Abi said even though she had no idea of his identity.

But he called her his sister-in-law which means that he was the brother of Leo. But come to think of it, he looked nothing like Leo. He was nothing like him.

The young man was cheerful while the man beside her was as cold as ice. The young man didn't share the same facial feature with Leo but had the similarities with the slightly old man that was pissed to see her.

"What is your name, young woman?", The oldest man at the table cleared his throat and drank some water.

"My name is Abigail Marshall", Abi said confidently with her voice crystal.

"How old are you?", The man dabbed on his lips.

"I'm twenty six", Abi replied and her brother-in-law opened his mouth in shock.

"How did you meet my grandson?", The man further asked.

Abi didn't know how to answer that question because it was so embarrassing.

"We've been dating for three years, grandpa. We met when I was in Dublin for some business. She was the chef in charge of the project I had to buy from a company there", Leo interrupted with a cold voice.

'Why was he talking to his grandfather that way?', Abi couldn't help but ask.

It was clear that they weren't really on good terms. He doesn't like his family at all. 

"That's one reason why you talk to each other. You have a fiancée that you're still seeing, don't you Leo?", The grandmother asked with a stern voice.

"So?", Leo asked rudely.

"Don't talk to your grandmother that way, Leonardo", Pen scolded her son but a glare sent in her way made her shut up.

Abi was just watching the family drama and kept blaming herself for whatever was happening. Why would she be drunk in the first place? Why would she go to his room even though she wanted to sleep with someone?!

"You have to let the world know that you're still in love with Ophelia. You have to let them know that you were seduced by this woman", His grandmother said with disgust.

Leo hissed and declared, "This woman here is now my wife. She is my family!"

Adrian and Pen exchanged glances and continued in her eating their food.

"She's your wife due to the scandal. She won't be your wife anymore in a few months", Pen hissed and rolled her eyes at Abi.

Abi felt like the ground should swallow her up. The hatred was too much for her to bear. No one likes her in the Grey family. No one plus her husband. The only person that looks like he likes her is her brother-in-law.

"I suggest you allow Ophelia to be the surrogate and divorce this woman", The grandfather said.

Abi was shocked to hear that from him and looked at him in anger. She would never do that in her life. Why would she transfer her baby to another woman to give birth to when she was alive and healthy?

"Mum?", Pen looked at her mom because she was just as surprised as her family was.

"I'm in support of that, Penelope. I don't want Abigail to carry my first great grandchild", The grandmother said with a frown on her face.

Leo said nothing because they were just joking in their presence. Well, they don't know that he has issues with producing babies but when he had sex with Abi once, she was pregnant for him.

He was happy like fuck but he never showed it because why would he?! As long as she was under his wings, he was happy.

"That's a good joke, granny. Please pass me the non-alcoholic wine beside your plate. As you all know, my wife is pregnant and we're going to love the baby with all our hearts", Leo directed his look to his mother who lowered her head in shame.

"She's going to be an excellent mother to our baby and won't leave the baby for money and dick", Leo laughed as his grandfather looked at him with unhappiness.

"What are you doing, Leonardo?", The young man asked with a frown.

"What do you think, step brother?", Leo smirked and clicked his tongue.